Primordial Slime: I Devour The World

Raxolf stood before the eastern gate of Eldoris. The Star Wolf Lord’s golden eyes remained fixed on the human army. Behind him stood the Star Wolf Warriors. The Stoneshell Turtles formed a defensive line. The Greater Ogres waited behind them. And farther back stood the Kijin. Rogan watched the soldiers with a serious expression. Ryuken remained silent, his eyes carefully studying the enemy formation. Raishin stood beside him, unusually quiet. Raveana cracked her knuckles. Relia looked toward the settlement behind them. ”This is going to be bad.” Raveana grinned. ”Good.” Rogan glanced at her. ”Don’t get reckless.” ”I won’t.” Rogan stared. Raveana sighed. ”Fine. I’ll try.” Ryuken smiled.

Then the army stopped. A group of mages stepped forward. One raised his staff. ”Begin suppression.” Magic spread across the battlefield. A pale wave swept through Eldoris. Raxolf’s ears twitched. His body suddenly felt heavier. His senses dulled. The Star Wolf Warriors staggered. The Greater Ogres grunted. Raveana’s expression changed. ”What is this?” Rogan tried to release his aura. Nothing happened. His eyes narrowed. ”They’re suppressing our abilities.” Relia looked toward the mages.

”It’s not targeting our bodies.” She clenched her fist. ”It’s targeting our mana.” Ryuken’s expression became cold. ”So they came prepared.”

Another wave of magic spread through the battlefield. The Kijin felt their strength drop further. Raveana’s smile disappeared. ”I hate them already.” Rogan looked toward Raxolf. The Star Wolf Lord was still standing.

Raxolf’s golden eyes remained fixed on the enemy. The Star Wolf Warriors moved forward. The humans charged. The two sides collided. Raxolf tore through the first line before pulling back. The Star Wolf Warriors followed. The Stoneshell Turtles advanced next, their enormous bodies absorbing the soldiers’ attacks. The Greater Ogres pushed forward. The humans struggled to advance. Then a familiar presence entered the battlefield. The soldiers moved aside. Gareth walked through the formation. Raveana’s eyes immediately locked onto him. ”So that’s him.” Rogan’s expression hardened. ”Raveana.” ”I know.” She stepped forward.

Gareth stopped. His eyes moved toward her.

Raveana charged. Gareth waited until she was within reach. Then he struck.

BOOM!

Raveana flew backward. She landed heavily, rolled, and immediately stood. She wiped the dirt from her face. Gareth smiled. She charged again. This time she attacked from the side. Gareth blocked. The impact shook the ground. Raveana attacked again. Even under the suppression magic, she refused to stop. Gareth’s expression slowly changed. He was enjoying himself. Then he struck.

Raveana was thrown backward. She pushed herself up. Gareth looked at her. ”You have courage.” Raveana grinned. ”And you’re still standing.” Gareth laughed. Then he disappeared. Raveana barely raised her arms before his strike sent her crashing across the battlefield. She landed on one knee. ”I’m not interested in fighting you.”

He looked toward Eldoris. ”The army has its orders.” Gareth smiled. ”To destroy the settlement.” He turned away. Raveana stared at him. ”He’s leaving?” Ryuken looked toward the eastern gate. ”No.” His voice was quiet. ”He’s going somewhere else.”

_______________

Forest Battlefield

Tanaka stood among the trees. The battle was still raging. Raizen and the Star Wolf Warriors moved through the forest, striking the human formations before disappearing between the trees. The Greater Kobolds continued activating traps. The goblins fired from concealed positions. The Moonhares moved between the fighting, carrying injured monsters toward Sylva. The Mana Birds remained above the battlefield. Tanaka looked upward. ”Zephyr. Where is Gareth?” The Mana Bird searched. ”I can’t see him.” Tanaka frowned. ”Search the eastern side.”bA few moments passed.

Then Zephyr’s voice changed. ”Great One.”

”What?” ”The eastern force has broken through.” Tanaka froze. ”What?” ”They’re inside Eldoris.” Tanaka’s grip tightened. ”Raxolf?”

Silence.

Tanaka’s expression darkened. Then a Greater Ogre entered the mental network.

”Great One!” ”What happened?” ”The humans broke through the defenses.” ”Where is Raxolf?” ”He remained behind.”

Tanaka’s eyes narrowed. ”Is he alive?”

A pause.

”We don’t know.”

Tanaka looked toward Eldoris. Something cold settled in his chest. Then another voice entered the network.

Sora.

”Tanaka...” Tanaka immediately answered. ”Sora.” ”They’re inside.” Tanaka’s eyes widened. ”Where are you?” ”I’m hiding.” Tanaka’s voice became firm. ”Stay there.” ”But...” ”Sora.” The little slime went silent. ”Stay hidden.” ”...Yes. Tanaka looked toward the battlefield. The human soldiers were still fighting his forces. But now he understood. The battle wasn’t happening in one place. The humans had divided their forces. Gareth had disappeared. The eastern army had broken through. And Eldoris was under attack. ”Raizen.” ”Great One?” ”Return to Eldoris.” Raizen didn’t hesitate. ”Understood.”

Tanaka turned toward the other monsters.

”Everyone.” The fighting gradually slowed. ”We’re returning.” The monsters began withdrawing. The humans shouted. ”Don’t let them escape!” ”Follow them!” Tanaka ignored them. His eyes remained fixed on Eldoris.

______________

Eldoris

Human soldiers poured through the streets.

The suppression magic continued covering the settlement. Monsters struggled to use their abilities. Buildings were damaged. Homes were being searched. Monsters fled toward the central district. ”Search everything!” A human commander shouted.

”Don’t let them regroup!” Calian walked among the soldiers. His expression showed satisfaction. ”They thought this place belonged to them.” He looked around. ”They were wrong.” A soldier hesitated. ”My lord...” Calian turned. ”There are civilians.”

”They’re monsters.” The soldier lowered his head. ”Yes, my lord.”

The soldiers continued advancing. But the monsters fought back. A Stoneshell Turtle slammed into a group of soldiers. A Greater Ogre lifted a fallen structure and used it as cover for fleeing Moonhares. Several goblins attacked from the rooftops. The Kijin fought wherever the pressure became greatest. Rogan struck one soldier aside before another group surrounded him. He fought them back. Raveana charged into another formation. Even weakened, she refused to retreat. Raishin moved through the chaos with calculated precision, striking isolated soldiers and immediately repositioning. Ryuken remained near the central district, protecting the wounded and watching for openings. Even Relia helped. The Kijin slowly regrouped. Then Relia heard something.

A faint bounce. She turned. ”Sora?” A small blue slime moved through an alley. Relia’s expression changed. ”Sora!” The slime stopped. ”Relia.” ”What are you doing here?” Sora bounced. ”I can help.” Relia’s eyes widened. ”Lord Tanaka ordered you to stay hidden.” ”I know.” ”Then go back.” Sora shook his body. ”No.” Relia stared. Sora’s voice trembled. ”Everyone is fighting.” He looked toward the wounded monsters. ”I can’t just hide.” Relia softened. ”Sora...” ”I want to help Tanaka.” A soldier suddenly appeared behind him. Relia’s eyes widened.

”Sora!” She moved. The attack struck her instead. Relia staggered.

Sora froze.

”Relia!”

”I’m fine.”

She pushed herself upright. Another soldier attacked. Sora bounced forward. ”Survivor!”

His body struck the soldier. The man stumbled backward. ”Earth Impact!”

BOOM!

The soldier fell. Sora immediately turned toward another. ”Leap!” Relia grabbed him.

”Sora!”

”I can fight!”

”I know.”

She held him firmly. ”But you don’t have to.”

Sora became still. Relia looked at him. ”Do you know why Lord Tanaka trusts you?” Sora didn’t answer. ”Because you’re different.” She smiled faintly. ”Everyone calls him Great One.” Sora looked up. ”But you call him Tanaka.” His body trembled slightly. Relia continued. ”You speak to him like his younger brother.” She looked toward the battlefield. ”If you die...” She paused. ”...it will hurt him.” Sora became silent. Relia stepped in front of him. ”My life is nothing compared to that.” Sora’s body shook. The soldiers charged. Relia moved. The suppression magic weakened her but she still fought.

Then a spell struck her. She staggered. Sora screamed. ”RELIA!” She fell. Sora rushed toward her. ”No!” He bounced beside her. ”Get up.” Relia’s eyes slowly opened. She smiled. ”You have to live.” Sora trembled. Relia looked at him. ”Tell Lord Tanaka...” Her voice became faint. ”...I’m sorry.” Sora froze. Relia’s eyes closed. ”Relia?” Nothing. ”Relia?” Still nothing. Sora’s entire body began shaking.

Then...

Rogan saw her. His expression changed.

”Relia?” Raveana stopped. Raishin turned. Ryuken’s eyes widened. For several seconds, none of them moved. Then Rogan’s expression hardened. ”Who did this?” Raveana looked toward the soldiers. Her hands trembled. ”Who...” Ryuken lowered his head. His normally calm expression was gone. Raishin said nothing. He simply disappeared. The next moment, a soldier was thrown across the street. Raveana’s rage exploded. The Kijin attacked together.

The suppression magic was still active. Their abilities were still restricted. It didn’t matter.

The four Kijin tore through the human formation. ”Increase the suppression!” A mage shouted. The magic intensified. The Kijin staggered. Ryuken looked toward Relia. ”They killed her.” Rogan’s eyes became cold. Raveana’s fists tightened. ”Then we make them regret it.” The four Kijin charged again.

______________

Tanaka felt something was wrong. ”Zephyr. What’s happening?” The Mana Bird hesitated. ”The Kijin are fighting.” ”I know but what else can you see?” Zephyr was silent before replying. ”Relia has fallen.” Tanaka stopped breathing. For a moment, the world seemed to disappear. ”Repeat that.” ”Relia...” Tanaka’s voice became quiet.

”Where is she?” No answer. ”Zephyr.” ”She’s...” Tanaka’s mind went blank.

Then Sora’s voice entered the network. ”Tanaka.” Tanaka closed his eyes. ”Sora.” ”I’m sorry.” Tanaka’s body trembled. ”What happened?” Sora couldn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Tanaka understood. His sword slipped from his hand. It fell into the dirt.

He stood there. Completely still. Then his human form dissolved. Blue slime replaced flesh. His body compressed.

LEAP!

BOOM!

He launched himself toward Eldoris. The forest blurred. Tanaka kept moving. Then Eldoris appeared. Smoke rose above the walls. The streets were filled with soldiers and monsters. Tanaka landed. He saw the destruction. Then he saw Sora. The little slime was beside Relia. Tanaka slowly approached. ”Sora.” The slime turned. ”Tanaka...” Tanaka looked at Relia. He didn’t speak. He couldn’t. ”She protected me.” Tanaka looked at him. ”She told me...” Sora’s voice broke. ”...that my life was more important to you.”

Tanaka’s body trembled. Sora continued.

”She said her life was nothing compared to that.” Tanaka looked down. His entire body became still. Then a human soldier shouted.

”Kill the big slime!” Tanaka slowly raised his head. His eyes were cold. The soldier charged. Tanaka disappeared.

BOOM!

The soldier was thrown aside. Another attacked. Tanaka’s body stretched around the weapon. He pulled. The soldier lost his balance. Tanaka struck him away. More soldiers appeared. Tanaka didn’t look at them. He looked toward Relia. Then toward Sora. Then toward the Kijin. Something inside Tanaka finally broke. His body expanded. Mana erupted across Eldoris. The ground cracked. The mages staggered. ”What is happening?” The suppression formation flickered. Tanaka’s mana continued rising. Tanaka’s body grew larger.

Darker. Denser. His anger had become something far beyond ordinary rage.

The suppression magic intensified. Tanaka didn’t care. The mages poured everything into it. ”Suppress him!” The spell struck Tanaka. His body trembled. Then the suppression shattered.

BOOM!

The magical formation collapsed. The mages were thrown backward. The Kijin immediately felt their strength return. The Kijin charged. The remaining monsters followed.

Star Wolf Warriors.

Greater Ogres.

Stoneshell Turtles.

Greater Kobolds.

Goblins.

Moonhares.

Mana Birds.

Everyone.

Tanaka stood at the center. He looked toward the human soldiers. For the first time since becoming a slime, there was no hesitation in his eyes, only rage. His voice entered the mental network. ”Everyone.” The monsters stopped. Tanaka’s voice was quiet. ”Protect the wounded. ”Get the children away.” Sylva answered. ”Understood.” ”Don’t let the humans reach the central district.” The monsters prepared themselves. Tanaka looked toward the soldiers. His voice became colder. His body compressed. Mana surged.

”Kill them.”

The monsters charged.